Category: Faster Forward

The Road to Institutional DeFi

The Road to Institutional DeFi

As a space that is expected to take off in coming years, the road to utilizing decentralized finance (DeFi) for regulated financial activities is under construction. Dan Sleep of Northern Trust and Boon-Hiong Chan of Deutsche Bank examine key driving forces in the DeFi domain and assess what lies ahead for the institutional investment industry on the road to institutional DeFi.

Key Highlights:

  • Understand the current state of DeFi and how it is being used in financial services today
  • Learn about the benefits of DeFi in institutional investing and how it can change the industry
  • Hear about DeFi in action through current projects and use cases 
  • Learn about the regulatory and cybersecurity risks and what institutions can do to build robust frameworks that ensure trust and security
  • Discover why collaboration between financial institutions, regulators, and tech companies is crucial to developing standards and ensuring seamless integration of decentralized and traditional systems
  • And much more!

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Exploring Generative AI in the Banking Industry

Exploring Generative AI in the Banking Industry

From streamlining customer service to redefining how data drives decisions, generative AI is pushing boundaries and unlocking new levels of innovation in the banking industry. 

But with these breakthroughs come complex challenges. In this episode, Alvin Chia, Head of Digital Assets Innovation, APAC at Northern Trust, and Manish Kogundi, Head of Digital Assets Technology, APAC at Northern Trust, examine the transformative capabilities of generative artificial intelligence in banking, its various use cases, barriers to adoption, and what the future holds for the industry. 

Key Highlights:

  • Learn how AI tools are redefining content creation and customer interaction, setting new standards for innovation in the industry
  • Discover current use cases in banking and how they are boosting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency
  • Examine the potential benefits and challenges of leveraging AI for researching and selecting stocks
  • Understand how AI can streamline regulatory and compliance workflows 
  • Learn about the obstacles banks face, from outdated infrastructure to data privacy concerns, and the steps needed to reskill employees for an AI-driven future
  • And much more!

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Connect with Manish M Kogundi:

Fixed Income Outsourced Trading Demystified with Stephanie Farrell & Ryan Forberg

Fixed Income Outsourced Trading Demystified with Stephanie Farrell & Ryan Forberg

Join Stephanie Farrell, Head of Integrated Trading Solutions, Americas, Northern Trust, and Ryan Forberg, Senior Fixed Income Trader, Integrated Trading Solutions, as they explore the rise of outsourced trading in the fixed income sector. Stephanie and Ryan will discuss the growth of outsourced trading, the misconceptions, and specifically why outsourced fixed income trading is gaining traction in the asset management industry.

Key Highlights:

  • Discover why outsourced trading is exploding in the asset management industry and how it helps to meaningfully lower costs, reduce risks, enhance transparency and add resiliency and scale. 
  • Learn how outsourced trading is transforming the fixed-income sector by providing asset managers with access to specialized expertise.
  • Debunk the myths of outsourcing and find out how it complements in-house efforts. offering additional support and expertise.
  • Gain insights into the evolving investment landscape and how Northern Trust’s Integrated Trading Solutions can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of asset managers, from active to passive strategies.
  • And much more!

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Navigating the Evolving Asset Management Landscape with Caroline Higgins

Navigating the Evolving Asset Management Landscape with Caroline Higgins

Amid rising costs and a shifting priorities, how are asset managers rethinking their strategies to enhance the investor experience?  

 Caroline Higgins, Head of Global Fund Services for Asia Pacific at Northern Trust, unpacks the key trends and challenges reshaping the asset management landscape in APAC and beyond. She explains the strategies that asset managers are implementing to navigate and meet their complex clients’ needs, including outsourcing and enhanced data solutions. Caroline also shares her journey in the industry, offering candid reflections on the progress and ongoing challenges in diversity, along with actionable advice for women aspiring to lead. 

 Key Highlights: 

  • Explore how the industry is shifting focus on enhancing product quality and improving investor experience 
  • Discover the rise of outsourcing non-core functions and how data tools are driving better decision-making and growth 
  • Learn about the unique challenges in APAC’s varied markets, where tailored strategies are crucial due to differing regulations and levels of technology adoption 
  • Hear Caroline’s insights into the progress and challenges in diversity, especially at leadership levels 
  • Gain actionable advice from Caroline on advocating for yourself, building a strong support network, and exploring lateral career moves for growth 
  • And much more! 

 Connect with Caroline Higgins: 

 About Caroline Higgins: